WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club celebrated its 25th birthday with an annual awards presentation evening.

The event attracted 200 members, parents and friends to the successful event held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester, on Saturday night.

Club members and Great Britain athletes Eloise Eccles and Liz Renondeau were guest speakers and presented the awards to club members and described their inspirational paths to being selected to represent Great Britain.

Harriet Wheeler and Emma Holmes were named joint winners of the women’s cup, and Nathan Brassington was the winner of the men’s cup.

Henry Robinson were presented with the Chris Goodwin Cup by Chris’s grandfather John Goodwin, while Paul Morrison won the Wright Trophy, and Mike Lamb was presented with Club Person of the Year.

Debra Bemand, Ellie Robinson and Joy Hickman were presented with first, second and third-placed awards respectively for the women’s Endurance Points Competition, and Paul Morrison, Andrew Clague and Neil Finegan were the top three men respectively in the men’s competition.

Nia Manson and Amelia Snowden, who won medals at the North Wales Cross Country League earlier in the day, won the under 11 girls awards, while Oliver Kimpton was presented with the under 11 boys trophy.

Mae Grant and Emilia Pyper collected the under 13 girls awards, and Will Rawson and Ellis Williams won the under 13 boys cups.

Holly Bosworth and Emily Owen were recipients of the under 15 girls awards, and Daniel Walker and James Rawson collected the under 15 boys trophies.

Yasmin Smith and Jessica Lark won the under 17 lwomen ‘s awards, while Fergus Garland and Luke Parker secured the under 17 men’s trophies.

Imogen Pughe and Jodi Bemand won the under 20 women’s awards, and Jamie Richardson and Sammy Hollins collected the under 20 men’s cups.

Danielle Erskine and Sophie Percival won the senior women’s awards, while Alan Littler and Will Scott were the senior men’s winners.

Ellie Robinson, Joy Hickman, Keely Smith and Eloise Eccles were the veteran women’s winners, and Michael Young, Neil Finegan, and Dave McKay secured the veteran men’s awards.

RUBY PHILLIPS pocketed a silver medal after clocking a new under 15 girls 800m personal best time of 2:16.62 at the Northern Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Jessica Lark finished fourth in the under 17 women’s 800m final after posting a new personal best of 2:12.40 in her qualifying heat, and Theo Shepherd was fourth in his under 15 boys 200m final with a time of 24.37 seconds.

Emma Holmes clocked 58.95 seconds for sixth spot in her under 20 women’s 400m final, while Macey Jones was eighth with a time of 8.03 seconds in her under 15 girls 60m final, and Fergus Garland posted 51.73 seconds in his under 20 men’s 400m heat.

NIA MANSON, Poppy McKenna and Amelia Snowden combined to secure second under 11 girls team position at Oswestry in the North Wales Junior Cross Country League, while Nia and Holly Coates won their under 11 and under 15 girls races, and Dylan Gledhill and Harry McKenna picked up bronze team medals in the under 13 boys age group.

Jodi Bemand (under 20 ladies) and Ellie Robinson (over-50 ladies) both won their overall age group categories in the final standings of the North Wales Senior Cross Country League.

Jodi (fifth) and Ellie (42nd) were backed up on the day by Kerry Riley (11th), Anest Muller (35th), Joy Hickman (49th), Traci Shipley (56th), Debra Bemand (64th) and Alex Duffey (69th) in the women’s race at Oswestry.

Henry Robinson (second overall in the under 20 men’s age group) finished 17th overall at Oswestry, ahead of Andrew Clague (third over-50 overall and 40th at Oswestry), Paul Morrison (60th), and Richard Hayes (72nd). Both men’s and women’s teams avoided relegation, and so will be in Division 1 again next season.

ISABELLA RIMMER posted fourth spot in the under 17 women’s race at Sherdley Park, St Helens in the Manchester Cross Country League, while Sammy Hollins was sixth in the under 17 men’s race, Thomas Rimmer was ninth in the under 13 boys race, Ben Newall was 40th in the under 15 boys race, and Mark Davies was 33rd over-45 man.

MICHAEL YOUNG (27th in 1:11:23) headed West Cheshire AC’s contingent at the Village Bakery Wrexham Half Marathon, alongside Graham Wells (eighth over-45 man in 1:16:50), Neil Hershaw (third over-55 man in 1:22:27), Danny Paddock (1:22:42), Steve Roberts (1:33:05), Andy Carter (1:35:33), Mark Davies (1:39:18), Brian Cremin (1:42:31), Stephen Ball (1:42:51), and Clare Mallon (14th over-45 lady in 1:43:43).

ANNA WOOLGAR finished third woman at the Parbold Hill Race, alongside Neil Finegan who finished 19th overall.

BETH MANSON celebrated a hat-trick of under 15 girls personal bests at the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting, posting 8.62 (60m), 27.55 (200m), and 7.01m (shot put).

Ruby Wisbey clocked a new under 20 women’s 60m personal best of 8.12 seconds, while Satine Wearden posted two new season’s bests in the under 15 girls 200m (33.31) and high jump (1-20m).

Laura Turley clocked a new senior women’s 200m season’s best of 25.31 seconds, and Carys Manson posted 10.50 seconds in the under 17 women’s 60m hurdles.  

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the English Cross-country Championships at Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, on Saturday, February 25; the Chester Ultra 50 Miles Race from Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday, March 4; the Chester Primary Schools Cross-country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Monday, March 6; the Inter Counties Cross-country Championships at Loughborough on Saturday, March 11; and the Manchester Cross-country League on Saturday, March 11; the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday, March 12; and the Chester 10k on Sunday, March 12.

THEO SHEPHERD and Aiden Hilton have secured Northern Indoor titles in Sheffield.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club duo pocketed regional championship victories after producing impressive performances at the English Institute of Sport Arena.

Theo won the under 15 boys 200m final in a time of 24.09 seconds and Aiden won the under 13 boys 60m title with a time of 8.46 seconds, and added a bronze medal in the 200m final with a time of 28.79 seconds.

Club mates Macey Jones and Ruby Billington also pocketed medals at the fixture, with Macey delivering 8.05 seconds in the under 15 girls 60m final and 4.89m in the long jump for two silver medals, and Ruby cleared 1-45m in the under 15 girls high jump to secure a bronze medal.

Lydia Walker, Mae Grant, Beth Manson, and Ruby Phillips also represented West Cheshire AC at the event.

SEVERAL West Cheshire AC youngsters will represent Cheshire at next month’s English Schools Cross Country Championships in Nottingham.

Sam Hollins and Henry Robinson secured their places on the start line at Wollaton Park on Saturday, March 18, after finishing second and fifth respectively in the Senior Boys race at Saturday’s Cheshire Schools Championships held at Knights Grange, Winsford.

Emilia Pyper secured her county vest after finishing third in the Junior Girls race, and Daniel Walker registered fifth spot in the Junior Boys race to earn his county vest.

Jodi Bemand (Senior Girl) and Nancy Farmer (Intermediate Girl) both finished sixth in their respective races, while Matthew Jones (10th), Ellis Hancock (14th) and Andrew Barratt (21st) completed the Intermediate Boys race.

Six West Cheshire AC members will represent Cheshire against Merseyside in the annual year seven schools cross country fixture scheduled to be held at Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Wednesday, March 29.

Harriet Beattie (fifth), Lauren Higgins (sixth), Anna Birkett-Evans (10th), Megan Hughes (12th), and Issy Stammers (18th) completed the Year Seven Girls race at Winsford to secure their Cheshire places, and Dylan Gledhill rounded the Year Seven Boys race in 20th spot to secure his county vest.

FIXTURES this weekend include the West Cheshire AC Annual Awards Presentation Evening on Saturday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Chester; the Manchester Cross Country League at Sherdley Park, St Helens, on Saturday; the North Wales Cross Country League at The Marches School, Oswestry, on Saturday; the England Athletics Under 15s, Under 17s, and Under 20s Indoor Track and Field Championships at Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday; and a Manchester Open Indoor Track and Field Meeting on Sunday.

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the Ellesmere Port, Neston and Helsby Secondary Schools Sportshall Competition at Whitby on Wednesday, February 15; the English Cross Country Championships at Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, on Saturday, February 25; the Chester Ultra 50 Miles Race from Ellesmere Port Sports Village on Saturday, March 4; the Chester Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Monday, March 6; the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships at Loughborough on Saturday, March 11; and the Manchester Cross Country League on Saturday, March 11; the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday, March 12; and the Chester 10k Road Race on Sunday, March 12.

JESSICA LARK and Joseph Morrison are celebrating new West Cheshire Athletic Club records.

Jessica clocked a new under 17 women’s 600m record time of 1:36:23 at the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting on Sunday.

And Joseph improved his indoor 3,000m record with a time of 8:30:82 in the Coughlan-Malloy Cup Meeting held in Illinois, United States.

JAMIE RICHARDSON produced an impressive performance at Blackburn’s Witton Park in the Northern Cross Country Championships.

The West Cheshire Athletic Club teenager posted 25 minutes 59 seconds for 12th spot in the under 20 men’s race, ahead of club mates Sammy Hollins (41st in 28:10), and Henry Robinson (52nd in 29:34).

Jodi Bemand secured 38th spot in the Under 20 Women’s event, while Ellis Hancock rounded the Under 17 Men’s race in 90th position, and Noah Woolgar finished 115th in the Under 15 Boys race.

Cosette Wearden rounded the Under 15 Girls race in 44th place, while Emilia Pyper (36th), Harriet Beattie (69th), and Eleanor Wheeler (88th) combined in the Under 13 Girls event.

Claire Harris was 97th in the Senior Women’s event, supported by Ellie Robinson (182nd), Angela Tegg (205th), and Debra Bemand (227th).

Neil Finegan finished 250th in the Senior Men’s race, backed up by Andrew Clague (315th), Richard Hayes (384th), and Andy Carter (477th). 

MACEY JONES celebrated two new personal bests at the Welsh Indoor Junior Track and Field Championships in Cardiff, posting 4.85m for fourth spot in the under 15 girls long jump, and 8.04 seconds for fourth place in the 60m.

JACOB GARDNER clocked new under 15 boys personal bests in the 60m (8.18 seconds) and 200m (26.80) at the Manchester Indoor Open Track and Field Meeting.

Yasmin Smith clocked 8.07 seconds in the Under 20 women’s 60m, while Hugh Parry clocked 7.69 in his under 17 men’s 60m, and Ruban Harris posted a new under 20 men’s long jump best of 5.54m and 8.34 for his 60m.

Nancy Collins a new under 15 girls 200m personal best of 31.27, and Satine Wearden posted 9.71 seconds in her under 15 girls 60m and hit 5.93m in the shot put.

Laura Turley posted 25.92 seconds in her senior women’s 200m, while Holly Bosworth (27.34) and Lara Fields (28.52) combined in the under 17 ladies 200m, and Alan Littler cleared 1-66m in the senior men’s high jump, and Victor Oyesola posted 7.23 seconds in the Men’s 60m. 

FIXTURES this weekend include the Cheshire Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday, and the Northern Indoor Under 13s and Under 15s Track and Field Championships at Sheffield on Sunday.

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the Ellesmere Port Primary Schools Sportshall Athletics Competition at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Thursday, February 2; the Cheshire Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday, February 4; the Northern Under 13 and Under 15 Indoor Track and Field Championships at Sheffield on Sunday, February 5; the Manchester Cross Country League at Sherdley Park, St Helens, on Saturday, February 11; the North Wales Cross Country League at The Marches School, Oswestry, on Saturday, February 11; the England Athletics Under 15s, Under 17s, and Under 20s Indoor Track and Field Championships at Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12; and a Manchester Open Indoor Track and Field Meeting on Sunday, February 12.

WEST CHESHIRE Athletic Club celebrated plenty of success in the mud at Colwyn Bay.

The Ellesmere Port Sports Village-based outfit’s under 11 girls and senior women secured team victories at Eirias Park in the third round of the North Wales Cross Country League.

Nia Manson (second), Poppy McKenna (fourth) and Amelia Snowden (sixth) combined to secure top spot in the under 11 girls team competition.

And Jodi Bemand (first under 20 lady and seventh overall), Kerry Riley (14th), Emma Nutt (15th), Claire Harris (22nd), Anest Muller (fifth over 40 lady and 43rd overall), Ellie Robinson (second over-50 lady and 48th overall), Joy Hickman (seventh over-55 lady and 64th overall), Debra Bemand (12th over-50 lady and 81st overall), Alex Duffey (13th over-45 lady and 83rd overall) earned victory in the women’s team event.

Jamie Richardson enjoyed first place in his under 20 age category and finished fourth overall in the men’s race, supported by Henry Robinson (third under 20 man and 19th overall), Neil Hershaw (first over-55 man and 31st overall), Paul Morrison (32nd), Dan Thwaites (56th), Mark Davies (12th over-45 man and 85th overall) to earn fourth team position.

Holly Coates secured third position in the under 15 girls race, while Dylan Gledhill (11th) and Harry McKenna (13th) completed the under 13 boys race. 

The final round of the North Wales Junior and Senior Cross Country League will be held at The Marches School, Oswestry, on Saturday, February 11.

FIXTURES this weekend include the Northern Cross Country Championships at Witton Park, Blackburn, on Saturday. The timetable is: 11am – Under 20 Women; 11.35am – Under 17 Men; 12 noon – Under 15 Boys; 12.20pm – Under 15 Girls; 12.45pm – Under 13 Boys; 1pm – Under 13 Girls; 1.15pm – Under 17 Women; 1.40pm – Under 20 Men; 2.10pm – Senior Women; 3pm – Senior Men.

ENTRIES close this Friday, (January 27), for the English National Cross Country Championships being held at Bolesworth Castle, near Tattenhall, on Saturday, February 25. Entries via West Cheshire AC have now closed, but individuals should be able to self-enter at https://www.race-results.co.uk/natxc23e.

FORTHCOMING fixtures include the Frodsham Primary Schools Sportshall Athletics Competition at Frodsham Leisure Centre this Thursday, (January 26); the Manchester Indoor Open Meeting on Sunday 29th January; the Ellesmere Port Primary Schools Sportshall Athletics Competition at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, on Thursday, February 2; the Cheshire Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships at Knights Grange, Winsford, on Saturday, February 4; the Northern Under 13 and Under 15 Indoor Track and Field Championships at Sheffield on Sunday, February 5; the Manchester Cross Country League at Sherdley Park, St Helens, on Saturday, February 11; the North Wales Cross Country League at The Marches School, Oswestry, on Saturday, February 11; the England Athletics Under 15s, Under 17s, and Under 20s Indoor Track and Field Championships at Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday, February 11 and 12; and a Manchester Open Indoor Track and Field Meeting on Sunday, February 12.